Witchcraft

What is witchcraft?

Witchcraft is the belief in how a magical can influence our behaviour, health and hierachy in soceity, it can be through the ideology of a higher power that proves to either against people or to aid people

It mostly practiced in Africa, Melanesia, The Pacific, Asia and Southern America

In western world it goes under the name of Wicca but is slightly different to the traditioanl noion of witchcraft

Evans-Prittchard found that witchcraft had the ability to cause misfortune or death and invloves unconscious psychic powers emanating from a black swelling, located near the liver; socery is the preformance of rituals, the uttering of spell and the manipulation of organic substance to harm or heal

1 of 4

The Azande

It is ubiquitous part of the Azande society, it plays a role in farming, fishing, hunting, domestic life and in influences the laws, taboo and court system

Those who mock or disrespect the laws of the Azande are cursed by devils and only a witchdoctor can life these curses

Like a Christian and praying, witchcraft is deep-rooted within the society and praying to Gods who show their power through spells and curses, will bless with prosperity (health, good fortune or good crop yield)

2 of 4

Why do they believe in it

To explain misfortune: the way witchcraft is used to explain why bad things happen in the context of a culture

To explain aspects of the world that cannot be explained by science

To help overcome social tension: the way witchcraft is used among the Azande to reesolve problems between families or within families

To fit into the society or culture

3 of 4

Shaman or witchdoctor

They are mostly always the higest authorive figure within the society, they hold ultimate wisdom and powers that people can only dream of

They are picked at a young age and have a lifetime of practice in the ancient arts

There are nearly always male (in recent years due to the decline in witchdoctors, female ones have increased

They possess the power to heal, speak to spirits, tap into dreams and interpret them and they can predict the future